Help me to love again (finished)

Chapter 78 : «it will cost a lot for Vegas...but also him.»

Author's note:

If you don't like how I write, please stop reading me. I don't spend hours creating the plot of my fanfiction to get derogatory comments.

If what I write is too violent for you, just stop reading instead of pouring your hatred on my stories.Thanks in advance.Big hearts to those who love history and don't criticize with hatred <3

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Neutral POV

Within the majestic grounds of the University of Pennsylvania, the academic atmosphere is steeped in a centuries-old tradition of striving for excellence. Its vast green lawns and imposing colonial-style buildings are home to a community of scholars eager for knowledge and intellectual debate. At the heart of this environment, the law school shines with its reputation in the field of international law, attracting ambitious minds from around the world.

Among these spirits are Pete, Vegas and Deborah, young students who have gained great popularity in just a few school days. Pete is admired for his striking beauty and remarkable presence of mind, Vegas, for his charismatic alpha male and protectiveness towards Pete, Déborah, for her loving and radiant character. Between them, they form an indivisible and inseparable trio in their common quest for success.

The first days of the first semester of study passed peacefully, but still with notable relational difficulties. In their interactions with others, Pete and Vegas take different approaches. They treat their teachers with respect, but Vegas shows more distrust of his peers than Pete. His charisma and confidence often allow him to influence others or manipulate circumstances to his advantage, which sometimes creates tension within the group. But which of Pete and Deborah is going to tell him a few things? Neither.

Vegas is the leader of their trio and this does not seem to bother them, as they all continue to rub shoulders and pursue studies in international banking law, motivated by a burning desire to open their own companies. They feel invested in a destiny already mapped out, as if all doors were open to them.

Besides, the trio has other things to do than argue about these details. Currently, as part of their studies, they must submit a complex legal file, based on a practical legal case. In the case they have chosen to take on, they are hired, fictitiously, by a high-profile law firm to represent a group of international investors who have been harmed by a series of questionable financial transactions. These transactions, seemingly legal at first, turned out to be sophisticated Ponzi* schemes, orchestrated by a transnational criminal organization.

Investors have lost considerable sums of money and are seeking compensation. However, the adversaries they face are formidable: highly skilled defense attorneys representing the banks involved, as well as influential members of the international financial community who attempt to minimize the damage to preserve their reputations and financial interests.

In addition to these adversaries, Pete, Vegas and Deborah must navigate a maze of political and economic pressures. Some governments have interests in the banking institutions involved and are trying to influence the process behind the scenes. Additionally, international media are closely monitoring this case, which adds additional pressure on lawyers to achieve positive results while maintaining their professional integrity.

Ethically, the team faces complex dilemmas. They must decide whether to pursue banking institutions to the bitter end, even though doing so could have potentially devastating economic repercussions. At the same time, they must ensure that their clients' interests are fully protected, while avoiding any compromise of their own moral principles. Vegas, Pete and Deborah must draw on their academic skills, legal acumen and mental resources to write their case by the end of semester deadline.

This file takes up a lot of their time, but their work does not stop there. In addition to academic challenges, Pete and Vegas must navigate personal challenges.

Vegas must deal with the demons of his family past. His father, Gun Saetang, is a powerful and ruthless businessman, who has always exerted great pressure and domination over him. Vegas grew up in a toxic environment where verbal and sometimes physical violence is commonplace. Now that he is no longer there to take his beating, Vegas learns that it is the servants of the house who are being used as scapegoats for his professional failures, beating them or verbally harassing them for the slightest misstep.

This tumultuous relationship left a deep mark on Vegas, fueling his own struggles with his impulsive temperament and tendency to dominate others. He is constantly plagued by internal conflicts, torn between the desire to stand out of his father and the fear of becoming like him. As Vegas fights to be a better version of himself, he asks Kim to protect the employees, and particularly Yasmine, his ex-girlfriend.

Vegas is experiencing worry and uncertainty at the moment. Pete is there to support him, fortunately, but he too must face challenges, since his grandmother has been admitted to the hospital again, suffering from anxiety problems.

This period is difficult for Vegas and Pete, since it impacts their romantic relationship. Vegas is more on edge and impulsive towards Pete, who is forced to submit ever more, if they don't want to have the misfortune of being beaten.

Despite all this, the love between Pete and Vegas continues to grow. They support each other in their academic and personal endeavors. However, elements external to them will further complicate their journey, which even Kim will not be able to avoid.

Kim does her best to exert her power in the mafia world. His sense of loyalty to his juniors Vegas and Pete drives him to act as a fierce protector. Aware of the constant threats weighing on them, he has for some time been implementing a daring strategy to ensure their security: closely monitoring the movements of their most formidable enemies: Chan, Time, Arm and Pol.

With a trusted team at his side, Kim deploys considerable resources to infiltrate the ranks of the rival faction, the Mexican Mafia. Using his manipulation skills and his connections in the criminal world, he eventually discovered that the four thugs were hiding in South America. There and thanks to the efforts of his father Korn, Kim was able to establish informant and surveillance networks with the Chilean, Argentinian, American and Guatemalan mafia which allowed him to closely monitor the activities of his adversaries.

But is it enough? Not at all...because on this one, Chan, Time, Arm and Pol are much better than we might have thought. Kim, Korn, or even Vegas and Pete remains oblivious to the machinations of their rivals.

Chan, Time, Arm and Pol work in the shadows, hatching a daring escape plan to get Big out of prison. The one who is a son, a brother and a friend, is now reduced to a precarious state of health behind bars. The preparations for his escape are being carried out with absolute secrecy and must be done very quickly. Chan, Time, Arm and Pol recruit trusted accomplices among their most loyal associates, eliminating any possibility of leaks or betrayals. They hatch a complex and sophisticated plan, exploiting loopholes in the prison system and manipulating law enforcement to facilitate escape.

If no one notices anything, it's because everyone is busy solving their own problem. Kim is immersed in his own internal and external struggles, focused on protecting his territory and his subordinates, dealing with Vegas' father, and visiting Pete's grandmother, all while still dealing with Chay and his studies.Protector of all, he still ignores the warning signs of the approaching storm and it will cost a lot for  Vegas...but also him.

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AUTHOR'S NOTE:*Ponzi fraud involves taking money belonging to one investor to pay false returns to other investors or simply to reimburse investors who want their money back. Fraudsters can thus give a false impression that the money invested brings good returns and that there is no problem in recovering the money invested.